Ok here goes, I started out in June with my new bike, I wanted to lose some weight (I have lots to spear) and get a little fitter. Well the time has come for my big summer challenge,
It’s a one day cycle tour of the lake. Not a short distance I know, it’s actually around 175km but here is the plan

The route I intend to take is Lausanne, Evian, Geneva, Lausanne. Clockwise if you will.
The plan is to start at 8.00am on Saturday 15th of September in Ouchy just by the bus stops.
I would love not to do this on my own and I'm looking for some people that fancy a challenge.

However here is the thing, I’m not fast, not fast at all J so if you do want to come along please bear in mind that I cant keep up with 35km all the way around, I hope you don’t mind going at an average pace of around 25km/h. there will be stops when people get tired and regular places where you can take the train or boat home.

Some good news for those of you that think 175km is way too far. The route can be split into three, Lausanne to Evian(~60km), Evian to Geneva(~60km), Geneva to Lausanne(~60km),
It’s entirely possible to take the boat back to Lausanne from Evian or the train back to Lausanne from Geneva and at most places in between,

So if you want to come along please do,
Reply to this thread and let me know if you are coming so I know how many people to expect, and if you have any questions

Sam

Hi Sam,

Good to see you again last night. Somehow I managed to be persuaded by Chris that this was a good idea so looks like I might well be joining you.

Done a few rides this year, Lausanne to Evian (70km I think) and a longer trip round to Yverdon and back that was just over 90km...so this will be...a challenge.



I'd best get out on the bike this weekend it seems...eck.

Glad to hear you are coming,

It should be a good day.

Sam

Sounds good Sam - about my pace at the moment. I'm keen for it, especially now that I can borrow Heather's bike

Cheers

Kath

I just realized that I haven't formally announced my participation on this thread. Anyway, now that is done, let's start looking forward to the ride. The forecast is ideal right now - low 20's and partly cloudy . Any more people interested?
After the ride, maybe we could join MaryT for some wine tasting at the Lavaux wine festival.
Edit: Oops, wrong weekend, we'll have to wait another week for the wine.

Hi guys,

since I've picked up the idea last thursday on the king size pub night (very cool night, thanks heather!), I've been looking fot this thread... well, there it is ;-)

I'm in!!!!

It's not sure yet, but I might bring a friend...

See you on Saturday,
chris

Hi,

I would love to join this trip( as I haven't had chance to join any of the events and I like cycling!), unfortunatly I am wokring this weekend...

If anyone plans this kind of cycling events( not too serious one...), I am up for it!!

P.S. I have done around lake Geneva for few times. It is annual events among friends. Jelly seat is necessary to have it!

Have a nice ride!

T

Thanks tokidoki

If this one goes well I'm sure there will be many more for you to join in on

Sam

Sam,

This still on for tomorrow?

8am in Ouchy by the bottom of the metro/bus stop yes?

Part of me is hoping for a "no, we can't be ar5ed..."

Make sure you have that part amputated

and yes its all still on

PLEASE do not forget to bring your passport,

see you at 8.00am

What have I signed up for...gulp.

See you there...am off to find a softer saddle...

Hey all of you,

thanks a lot for joining you 185 km of your live . It was a wonderful day with you and I appreciated the relaxed way of approaching our goal.

You find the pictures I took with full resolution at

http://picasaweb.google.com/michel.franz/TourDeLac

I wish you a wonderful working week

Hope to see you again, Franz

Thanks very much for the pictures, and also for helping me meet my goal,

Maybe we should do some of the other lakes now

Sam

I'd like to do this ride at some point & was wondering if any of you that participated could give some info as to the quality of the road around the lake as well as how flat/hilly the route is.

Also, is it generally easy to follow?

Thanks!

Hi there,

If you'd like to do the ride as part of an organized event (not a race) that includes supports along the way (food and drink, as well as emergency mechanical assistance), a pasta meal afterwards, and a cycling jersey, there is a large organised tour happening June 1st, the Cyclotour du Leman. There are a bunch of EF-ers doing it already (including myself).

Regardless of whether your choose to do this official event or go on your own, the answers to your questions are as follows:

1. The road is generally quite good, although in France it is not as good as in Switzerland (a few more bumps and potholes). Know that the roads along the Swiss side from Geneva to Lausanne are generally quite busy, and the route takes you directly through the dead-centre of Geneva. It's best to start the ride as early as possible to avoid traffic.

2. In terms of elevation, it is quite flat: there is a small climb exiting Thollon in France (going clockwise around the lake), and there are a few rolling hills between Geneva and Lausanne, but the elevation gain is quite small (if I recall correctly, the maximum height you achieve above the starting point is something like 80m). The road follows the lakeshore almost all of the way, which means that, by definition, it's very flat.

3. It's generally quite easy to follow because (depending on which direction your ride it) it's either all left or all right turns, and the lake is an excellent navigation aid. The only places it gets a bit confusing are at the Valais end of the lake, where you have to head inland a bit to find a bridge that will take you across the Rhone, and near Yvoire, where if you stay too close to the lake you end up in the town and not on the road anymore. However, a 1:100 000 map should be fine for navigating.

I do know that quite a few people are doing the official cyclotour as more of a race, so several of us are already planning to do another ride similar to the one that SamCole organised last year: we'll head out from Lausanne to do the lake at a very casual pace, and all will be welcome to join. We plan on taking frequent breaks, and the goal is just to get ourselves back to Lausanne by the end of the day to enjoy some well-earned beer and food on a patio somewhere. If this would be of interest to you, just let me know and I'll post a reminder once we've sorted out more details. I think we're not planning on doing this until late August/early September.

Happy riding,

Heather

thanks for that! i'm not sure whether i'll join the official ride on the 1st, however will be up for the ride in late summer. keep us posted!!

cheers

Just wanted to register my interest for the 2008 ‘unofficial lake tour’ if it's going ahead, any dates yet?

I have a few friends from the UK who are interested and want to make a weekend of it. Would be great if we could get a load of us participating.

Cheers

Hello, yes there will be an unofficial lake Tour (The Ice Cream Tour) we are aiming for Sunday the 7th of September

I shall post it soon on its own thread so we can see who is up for it

When I do I shall put a link to the thread here

Sam Cole

ok I have posted this years event here

The Great Annual Ice Cream Cycle Tour of Lake Geneva

Sam

I would love to do this - have just cycled around lake constance in soutehrn Germany , Austria and Switzerland (270 kms in 5 days) . So, am also not fast at all and continue to train. Maybe we could even do some training together sometime during a weekend? Shorter routes (Jura, Rhone etc) could be attacked.

Also need to lose weight and love outside activities.